By Dayo Awoniyi
Former Nigeria U-17 women’s national team coach, Bala Nkiyu, has lauded the Super Falcons’ 2-0 victory over Cameroon, calling it a crucial test of the team’s readiness for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Nkiyu described the win as more than just a result, noting that the quality of the opposition provided the type of challenge the Falcons need ahead of major tournaments.
“Cameroon didn’t come to play for pride; they came to challenge Nigeria,” Nkiyu said.
“And that’s the kind of game the Falcons need more of. It’s in matches like these that you truly test your team’s tactical maturity, mental strength, and readiness for bigger competitions.”
The coach emphasized that African women’s football is growing increasingly competitive, and matches against strong regional rivals help expose areas for tactical and technical improvement.
Nkiyu also addressed criticism aimed at the team’s performance, cautioning fans and pundits against focusing solely on aesthetics or flawless displays.
“Results must be balanced with performance insights and long-term team growth,” he added.
“Development takes time, and matches like this are part of the bigger picture.”
The Super Falcons, nine-time African champions, are preparing for another title bid at the WAFCON in Morocco, where increased parity among teams promises a tougher road to success.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
